Aziz, University out to shatter school wins record

University is 2-1 heading into tonight's District 2-8A opener on the road against Lake Brantley, and nearly took down a talented New Smyrna Beach team.

By DANNY KLEINdanny.klein@news-jrnl.com

ORANGE CITY — As University's Tyler Aziz sprinted off the practice field Tuesday afternoon, one of his teammates tried to grab his attention before giving up.“He's always running,” he said.That would be one way to describe the senior running back.Another would be dynamic, a description his coach, Brian Kells, uses and one Flagler Palm Coast found out first hand in its Week 3 matchup.Aziz scored two touchdowns in a span of nine seconds to help the Titans stun the Bulldogs, 14-6. He returned a punt 58 yards for his first score. Then, after University recovered the ensuing kickoff, he reached the end zone from 18 yards out on the Titans' first play.“It's been very exciting,” said Kells, who's coaching varsity for the first time this year. “He's brought a dynamic element to our special teams. His ability to return kicks, whether it's punts or kickoffs, is awesome. We knew we had a special running back, but he's been equally great as a returner.”The Titans set a school record with five wins in 2012. But Kells had a feeling things were on the rise when Aziz, the area's leading returning rusher with 1,136 yards as a junior, transferred in from Trinity Christian in the offseason.Kells' outlook has been proven right so far.University is 2-1 heading into tonight's District 2-8A opener on the road against Lake Brantley, and nearly took down a talented New Smyrna Beach team in Week 2. Aziz returned a kickoff 84 yards for a score in that 27-21 loss that gave the program a glance into its potential.The following week, University pulled out the game over FPC — a team the Titans lost to 28-7 a season ago.“We work hard, we expect to win,” Kells said. “It wasn't a surprise.”During Tuesday's practice, coaches used a wide-open district race to motivate the players during conditioning drills. The Titans have only won one district game in their four-year history.With the 5-foot-10, 155-pound Aziz in the fold, quarterback Chris Negron believes that will change.“We were excited when we found out he was coming,” Negron said. “It was just another playmaker on this offense that people were going to have to deal with.”Negron also said it didn't take long for Aziz to convince the whole team this summer.“He had to gain the coaches trust and our players' respect,” Negron said. “He had to show that he was the best. We knew that he was a good player. We knew that he was a good running back. We just wanted him to show us he was a good running back.”According to Aziz, that took maybe “two weeks.”“I think the competition here pushed me to be better,” Aziz said. “I think it was great for me.”Aziz and the Titans know things are about to get a lot more difficult. That's one of the reasons why Kells loaded up on quality games to open the season.University's district includes DeLand, Lake Mary, Lyman, Seminole, Spruce Creek and tonight's opponent, 2-1 Lake Brantley.The Patriots were 9-2 last season and reached the playoffs before losing to Neptune Beach Fletcher, 24-21, in the first round. The week before, Lake Brantley closed out the 2012 season with a 37-14 victory over University.Aziz said part of the benefit of transferring to University was the chance to make history. For a team that's never reached the postseason, tonight could be a good place to start.“It would be nice,” Aziz said. “Having a chance to do something we've never done here would mean a lot. We have to take it one game at a time.”